Worship
Sing or say the words of this beautiful song of praise as an expression of your love for & worship to God).

You are beautiful beyond description,
Too marvellous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Majesty, enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You,
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God, to whom all praise is due,
I stand in awe of You.

Sermon on the Mat: ‘More than just a man.’

Reading
‘Six days later Jesus took Peter & the two brothers, James & John & led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that His face shone like the sun & His clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses & Elijah appeared & began talking with Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials – one for you, one for Moses & one for Elijah.”

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to Him.” The disciples were terrified & fell face down on the ground. Then Jesus came over & touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked, Moses & Elijah were gone & they saw only Jesus.’ Matthew 17:1-8. NLT.

As the season of Lent fast approaches (that 40 day period between Ash Wednesday & Easter Sunday, when, if we so choose, our attention is focused on giving up what ultimately we cannot keep, in order to gain that which we can never lose), what does the mountain top experience of ‘Jesus’ Transformation’ in the presence of Peter, James & John, offer us by way of strength for today & bright hope for tomorrow? That not only is there far more to life than meets the eye but also there are better & more glorious days ahead, for all whose confidence & trust is in the Lord! I.e. The God who, according to Psalm 145:17 – ‘Is just in all His actions & exhibits love in all He does.’ In this regard Christian song writer Babbie Mason notes – ‘God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind. So when you don’t understand. When you don’t see His plan. When you can’t trace His hand. Trust His heart. Trust His heart.

More to life than meets the eye? Better & more glorious days ahead? Hard, if not impossible to imagine! Especially in light of the difficulties & challenges we’re all currently facing. Difficulties & challenges, take note, from which there is always a way out! If we would but heed God’s invitation to join Him on the mountain top experience of ‘His Glory Revealed.’ The place where the air is fresh, the view crystal clear & the promise of a future, far brighter than we could ever possibly imagine, is positively assured. As Pastor Max Lucado helpfully puts it – ‘God says don’t worry about your future. He is the author of your story & He’s already written the final chapter.’

It’s on the mountain top experience of ‘God’s Glory Revealed’ that we come to realise that Jesus is more than just a man. That He’s God & therefore uniquely & abundantly qualified to be the Saviour of the world. Your Saviour & my Saviour, if we will but acknowledge our need to be saved. I.e. To receive the forgiveness that He alone can give. I love this quote from the pen of C.S. Lewis, in which he states – ‘A man who was merely a man & said the sort of things He said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was & is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him & kill Him as a demon or you can fall at His feet & call Him Lord & God but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.’

More than just a man. Lord of both the living & the dead. As the appearance of Moses & Elijah, at the very point of Jesus’ transformation, makes plain. Both men had died many years before Jesus came to earth & yet there they stood, larger than life. One at His left hand, the other at His right. Proving beyond any shadow of a doubt that life doesn’t end the very moment we draw our final breath. Rather it begins all over again. With Jesus forever as, by faith, we take hold of the One who in His great love & mercy, willingly & gladly, takes hold of us!

A Prayer for Lent

God of goodness & mercy
Hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with You.
Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart & soul,
Noticing the times I turn away from You.
Guide me as I humbly seek to repent
And return to Your love.
May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with You
And live forever in Your abundant grace.
Transform me this Lent, Heavenly Father
And give me the strength to commit myself
To grow closer to You each day.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Please pray –

• For the moving of the Holy Spirit throughout the land.
• That God would use this pandemic to draw people to Himself.
• That in these uncertain times people will find their hope & security in Jesus.